Nigerian fiber optic provider, Phase3 Telecom, said they plan to push for aerial fiber optic networks in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal. The move should boost their presence in West Africa, improving telecom services for customers they said in a statement on Wednesday.

Phase3 Telecom has previously teamed up with Dancom Technologies' to boost broadband in Nigeria (image: stock.xchng)

The company has already begun connecting its fiber optic network in Benin, Togo and Niger.

Mark Chiazor, head of Phase3 Telecom’s marketing strategy, said there is “a strategic partnership with the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to deploy a fiber optic network”.

He also said the companies had “secured the right of way from Communaute Electrique du Benin (CEB) to use the high-voltage electric power lines in Benin and Togo to deploy optical fibre with­in the two countries”.

Last year a new underwater cable was put into service in West Africa and Phase3 hopes via their fiber optic networks, they can help build the region’s infrastructure network to push IT forward.